Update:Philippine Navy rushes acquisition of 1-2 MRVs

Update:Philippine Navy rushes acquisition of 1-2 MRVs

NOTE: This is an updated, re-titled thread. Please scroll down for the latest update.

Against Islamic insurgents in that country's south who might sometimes use fishing boats to escape, perhaps this might be effective. Against the PLAN's missile frigates, these would be target practice.

THE Philippine Navy is getting three multi-purpose attack ships on Friday during its 111th foundation anniversary, boosting its capability in the fight against the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, particularly in the Sulu province.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said the ships, worth P72.7 million each, will be formally turned over by Promtech Corp. to the Navy leadership during the celebration of its anniversary at the Navy headquarters in Manila.

Arevalo said the attack craft has top speed of 40 knots and can make a turn even at a speed of 30 knots.

"It will be armed with machine guns and it can carry as much as 20 fully-armed personnel," he said.

After their inauguration, Arevalo said two of the attack ships will be deployed in Sulu where Abu Sayyaf bandits are still holding Italian Eugenio Vagni, one of the three original hostages from the International Committee of the Red Cross who were snatched last January in Patikul.

The two other hostages, a Filipina and a Swiss, were released within days of each other last April.

Arevalo, who is the military’s spokesman on the four-month hostage crisis, said the troops in Sulu need such an asset. "This is where these will be tested because these sea craft are really fast," he said.

The third attack craft, Arevalo said, will be sent to augment the capability of the Navy unit that is securing the Malampaya natural gas project off Palawan.

Arevalo said the acquisition of the three attack craft is part of the Navy’s modernization program. He said a number of projects are already in the pipeline, including the procurement of a multi-role vessel.

"This multi-purpose vessel will serve as our launching platform, it will have helicopters on board, rigid inflatable boats inside and it can also carry armor assets like tanks. In short, this will be sort of a mother ship," he said.

Arevalo, however, could not immediately say how much such a multi-role mother ship will cost the Navy or when it will be acquired. "We have no timetable yet when it is arriving but definitely, we will buy one," he said. – Victor

3 Multipurpose attack vessels. These appear to be basically inshore fast patrol boats with machineguns and small troop capacities.
(Edit: In fact, I believe these are the three locally built examples of CB90 that the Philippines Navy is acquiring -- one more was bought from Sweden.)

1 Multi-role vessel, which sounds like a small LPD, similar in concept to the Royal New Zealand Navy's Project Protector MRV.

Neither are oriented against China, because that's basically a hopeless scenario for the Philippines. They can't hope to oppose China in a direct
military confrontation, so building against that threat is fairly pointless. On the other hand, Abu Sayaff does pose a fairly clear and immediate threat that
is within the Philippines' capacity to counter. New inshore patrol craft and amphibious transports sound like sensible ideas for such a conflict.

MANILA, Philippines - Outgoing Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales is rushing the acquisition of one or two multi-role vessels through a government-to-government contract at a cost of from P5 billion to P10 billion.

“I hope it is not considered a midnight purchase. We will try to have it finalized,” Gonzales said in an ambush interview at the Philippine Navy headquarters yesterday. He was at the Navy headquarters to formally install as new Navy Flag Officer in Command in an acting capacity Rear Admiral Danilo Cortez, who replaced retired Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez.

To fast track documentation and acquisition of the vessels, Gonzales also announced that he was “borrowing” Golez from his family to be his defense consultant.

“I asked him (Golez) to render his services to the Defense department for him to see all the aspects of the modernization program, particularly for the Navy,” Gonzales said. It was not clear how long Golez would serve as consultant.

Gonzales said the vessels would likely come from South Korea or Singapore.

Several quarters have been questioning Gonzales’ motives in setting aside public bidding in favor of government-to-government deals in the acquisition of military vehicles and equipment.

With barely 45 days left in office as Defense chief, Gonzales stressed that a government-to-government transaction is the fastest way to acquire the needed equipment for the Armed Forces’ modernization.

He said a government-to-government deal, instead of a private contract, is a guarantee against corruption.

He added that the vessels could be delivered within two years from signing of contract.

The acquisition would be funded from the budget for military modernization in 2009 and this year totaling P10 billion.

“The AFP already has a list of what should be acquired in 2009, so we’re looking at 2009 and 2010 because it’s already 2010,” he said.

Aside from the P10 billion, Gonzales said a multi-year “obligational authority” from Congress would ensure funds for the procurement and purchases by the Defense department.

“There’s already an approved list of acquisition for 2009 and for 2010. Once these lists are approved and (government-to-government contract) signed, delivery would be within two years,” Gonzales.

He added that several night attack helicopters for the Air Force are already due for delivery.

The STAR learned that these attack helicopters were reconditioned Cobra combat helicopters which the Defense department purchased for more than P3 billion from Israel.

The government-to-government procurement has drawn suspicion because the units acquired were not new contrary to President Arroyo’s instructions.